The All Whites are “raring to go” for their international friendlies against Mexico and the United States, head coach Darren Bazeley says.
Bazeley said the squad had prepared well at their training camp in California despite having to make injury-forced changes to the squad in the lead-up to Sunday’s game against Mexico.
Withdrawals from the squad were midfielder Sarpreet Singh (minor injury), defender Tyler Bindon (concussion) and full back Dalton Wilkins (injury).
Brought into the squad were Auckland FC striker Logan Rogerson, Charlotte defender Bill Tuiloma and Wellington Phoenix fullback Sam Sutton.
“It’s always disappointing to lose players in the build-up to the camp,” Bazeley said.
“Obviously, we lost Sarpreet and Tyler, you know, just before coming here.
“And, also, Dalton picked up that injury yesterday so that’s disappointing to lose (them) but we’ve replaced them with good players.
“What we have now, we have good depth in lots of positions so now it’s an opportunity for those players (coming in).”
Bazeley said the side’s main priority was to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but the games against Mexico and United States would provide a measure of the All Whites’ progress.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to test ourselves … make sure that we see where we’re at, … how close are we to getting ready to beat one of these bigger teams.
“So it’s a good challenge, one we’re ready for.”
New Zealand have selected a squad that is considered one of the strongest ever, including players attached to clubs in the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and France’s LIgue 1.
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SquadsName/caps/goals/club
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe (9/0) Burton Albion, England Alex Paulsen (1/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth) Oli Sail (9/0) Perth Glory, Australia
Defenders
Bill Tuiloma (40/4) Charlotte, United States Michael Boxall (49/0) Minnesota United, United States Liberato Cacace (25/1) Empoli FC, Italy Tim Payne (37/2) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Nando Pijnaker (19/0) Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland Tommy Smith (55/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand Finn Surman (5/1) Portland Timbers, United States Sam Sutton (3/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Midfielders
Joe Bell (18/1) Viking FK, Norway Matthew Garbett (22/3) NAC Breda, Netherlands Ben Old (8/1) AS Saint Etienne, France Alex Rufer (13/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Marko Stamenić (21/1) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Forwards
Kosta Barbarouses (60/7) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Elijah Just (26/2) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from AC Horsens) Logan Rogerson (9/1), Auckland FC, New Zealand Ben Waine (16/5) Plymouth Argyle, England Chris Wood (74/34) Nottingham Forest, England
Head coach: Darren Bazeley
Name/caps/goals/club
Goalkeepers
Luis Malagon (4/0) Club América, Mexico Raul Rangel (1/0) C.D. Guadalajara, Mexico Alex Padilla (0/0) Athletic Bilbao, Spain
Defenders
Julian Araujo (13/0) AFC Bournemouth, England Israel Reyes (16/2) Club América, Mexico Alan Mozo (2/0) C.D. Guadalajara, Mexico Cesar Montes (47/1) Almeria, Spain Johan Vasquez (26/1) Genoa, Italy Victor Guzman (4/0) Monterrey, Mexico Jesus Angulo (14/0) Tigres, Mexico Jesus Gallardo (98/2) Toluca, Mexico
Midfielders
Luis Romo (49/3) Cruz Azul, Mexico Fidel Ambriz (1/0) Monterrey, Mexico Erik Lira (4/0) Cruz Azul, Mexico Carlos Rodriguez (52/0) Cruz Azul, Mexico Luis Chavez (34/4) Dynamo Moscow, Russia Sebastian Cordova (17/3) Tigres, Mexico Orbelin Pineda (73/10) AEK Athens, Greece
Forwards
Diego Lainez (26/3) Tigres, Mexico Julián Quiñones (8/2) Al-Qadisiyah, Saudi Arabia Roberto Alvarado (45/5) C.D. Guadalajara, Mexico Marcelo Flores (3/0) Tigres, Mexico Cesar Huerta (10/1) Pumas UNAM, Mexico Guillermo Martinez (6/2) Pumas UNAM, Mexico Santiago Gimenez (30/4) Feyenoord, Netherlands Henry Martin (43/9) Club América, Mexico
Head coach: Javier Aguirre
Game to be played Sunday September 8, 2024 (NZT)
Mexico v New Zealand Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, 1pm (NZT)
Game to be played Wednesday September 11, 2024 (NZT)
United States v New Zealand TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio, 11am (NZT)
This story was first published on September 8, 2024.
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